Simply the Bible Blog

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.” (Psalm 23.6a)

As I write this I’m sitting in our son’s living room with a few spare moments before we celebrate his 24th birthday. The news reports that a 22-year-old marine was just killed in Afghanistan. He was expecting to return home in June for his wedding in July. There are many questions for which I have no answers. Why should we enjoy our son growing up, getting married, and working by our side, while another family mourns the loss of their son, and a young woman grieves the loss of her fiance?

As  David considered his life, he recalled the many times God had showered him with tender mercies. Even through the most severe trials the Lord had delivered him. Looking back, he saw only goodness and mercy covering his mistakes and heartaches. God had been faithful even when he had been faithless.

Worries can choke us; fears paralyze us. We lose sight of His goodness and mercy. Our vitality is drowned by “what ifs” and “should haves”. David had an awareness that he was pursued by the love of God, but he didn’t always have this perspective. On another occasion he cried, “My God, why have you forsaken me?” But when the dark clouds passed and the sun shone again on his soul he could look back and see God’s goodness overshadowing every storm.

Some things are not visible while you’re in them. Have you ever seen a rainbow from the inside? Only distance and perspective reveal its beautiful colors. It is God’s signature that He uses both rain and sun to create something lovely. It’s been said that His past faithfulness demands our present trust. Right now you’re too close. Nothing makes sense. Like Job, the harder you try to figure the more you’ll darken His counsel with ignorant words. Better wait in childlike trust. One day you’ll look back and see only goodness and mercy behind, around, and in front of you. And you’ll know that in the midst of an evil and uncertain world, God has been stalking you with His goodness.